December 2
“The elder, to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth: Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth,” 3 John 1-4.
As in his Second Epistle, so also in the Third Epistle the apostle John refers to himself as the elder. He uses the name that was commonly used in the history of the early Christian Church for the designated pastors in the congregations.
The Epistle is addressed to the beloved Gaius. That was a common name in those days. There are references in the Bible to three other men by the name of Gaius (Acts 19:29, Acts 20:4, Romans 16:23, and 1 Corinthians 1:14).
Whoever the Gaius was who is addressed by the apostle John in his Third Epistle, he is addressed as a beloved fellow-Christian. His reputation was well-known as someone who was very devoted to witnessing for the truth of the Gospel.
John gives us the good example of Christians praying for and with one another. To his beloved Gaius, he wrote, “I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” He prayed for both bodily and spiritual blessings upon Gaius. Gaius was growing in faith. His soul was prospering. And what was the reason for his spiritual growth? It is summarized in the words, “The truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth.” He believed the truth of God’s Word, and he lived according to the truth.
John rejoiced greatly when other Christians reported to him that Gaius confessed the truth and lived according to the truth. If you and I confess our Christian faith and live a Christian life, it will be very obvious to others and it will move fellow Christians to rejoice and to give all glory to God. John wrote, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”
John’s emphasis upon believing the truth and living according to the truth reminds us of the words of Jesus recorded in John’s Gospel: “Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My Word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free,’” John 8:31-32. In these words of Jesus, we see the relationship between God’s Word and the spiritual truths. Outside of and separated from God’s Word as revealed in the Bible, we do not know the truth about creation, redemption, and sanctification. Separated from God’s Word, we do not know the truth about sin and our Savior. If we do not know Jesus’ Word, we remain slaves to sin and we have no hope for eternal life in the glories of heaven.
Rejoice with your fellow Christians that we know the truth about being saved. We are saved not by our works, but by God’s grace through faith in Jesus, who lived a perfect life in our place and who carried our sins to Calvary’s cross and washed them away with the shedding of His holy, precious blood. With our Christian faith, we can say with John, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”
“Thee will I love, my Strength, my Tower;
Thee will I love, my Hope, my Joy;
Thee will I love with all my power,
With ardor time shall ne’er destroy.
Thee will I love, O Light Divine,
So long as life is mine.” Amen.